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Palpitations

Posted , 8 users are following.

Jersey_Royal
Jersey_Royal

Hello all,  Had a bit of a scare last evening, I have GCA/PMR since 2012

had a few blips on the way that most people have with that condition.

Had excellent help on my last flare up problem, which Eileen suggested I may be dehydrated, and being on holiday I think I was, drank lots of wAter and felt sooo much better,

Anyway, (still on hols)  had a lovely day out sightseeing no less tiring than anything I normally do , felt great all day, got back in the evening, had a cup of tea (only 3rd during the day and 1 coffee) which I normally have,

but relaxing with my tea, suddenly these palpitations started, quite sort of pounding ones, that went on for about 40 mins  quite scary. 

I am on 4 Pred a day ' take BP tablets for about 10 years (which is white coat syndrome) at home it's normal, but at the surgery it  shoots up. Also a disposable aspirin.

Slept ok and feel ok this morning. I am home next week so will chk it all out, but does anyone else get palpitations?

JR.

 

1 like, 18 replies

18 Replies

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  • EileenH
    EileenH Jersey_Royal

    Posted

    I had palpitations which started originally around the time the PMR started so in my case it wasn't pred. It was eventually sorted out when I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (another reason for investigation, not directly my previous symptoms) which the cardiologist believes was due to tissue damage caused by the underlying autoimmune disorder. There is known to be a higher rate of a/f in rheumatoid arthritis - can't find figures for anything else.

    Pred can also cause palpitations though. 

    I did ask the GP who was equally as useless as he'd been for  the PMR and he told me to call 999 if they went on too long or were very bad. There is some logic - paramedics can do an ECG immediately and identify the possible type of arrythmia, they never happen to order when you are sent for an ECG! Mine are perfectly managed with medication - most important with an arrythmia is warfarin. 

  • misdiagnose
    misdiagnose Jersey_Royal

    Posted

    Make a list of your symptoms Jersey Royal and give the list to your doctors. My GP originally told me that only the headache was important to tell her about. Everything else was a /minor problem'. Within 2 months of her rapid prednisolone reduction, I had a deterioration in sight in both eyes overnight caused (so the Eye Doctor told me) by the blood vessels at the back of the head becoming blocked due to Arteritis.
  • debbie27473
    debbie27473 Jersey_Royal

    Posted

    Hi. Yes, I am having bad palpitations at the moment. I originally had them in last year and had a heart monitor, several ecg's and a c.t scan. This showed I have very high 'p waves' (the first part of the heartbeat) but no heart or lung disease. When I reduced my pred from 15mgs to 12.5mgs, the palpitations stopped, so it was all put down to the pred. I am now on 10mgs a day but the palpitations have returned with a vengence! I had an urgent appointment with my doctor on Tuesday evening and she has booked me in for another 24hr heart monitor to try to see what's going on. The point is, heart stuff should never be ignored. I would report your palpitations to your gp as soon as you get home, just to be on the safe side. Take care, Debbie.
    • Jersey_Royal
      Jersey_Royal debbie27473

      Posted

      Thankyou Debbie, yes it really is frightening, when the palps  go on for a long time, which I guess made me panic a bit more.

      yes I will get a member of my family to make an appointment for me for when I get home.

      thanks for  your reply.

  • doreen25667
    doreen25667 Jersey_Royal

    Posted

    Yes, I too get palpitations and very scary they are at the time. I live alone and can get very anxious when they start as they there seems to be no rhyme or reason for them. My GP has reassured me that all is well! I hope he is right!
    • EileenH
      EileenH doreen25667

      Posted

      Omniscient is he? Built in cardiac monitor?

      Prefer the sound of Debbie's doctor I think!

    • Jersey_Royal
      Jersey_Royal doreen25667

      Posted

      Thankyou Doreen for  your kind reply, I think when all is said  and done

      best thing is to chk it out with my Dr when I get home next week.

      (Easter though she could be on holiday) !!!!!

      Thankyou.

       

  • charlie44644
    charlie44644 Jersey_Royal

    Posted

    Hi Jersey Royal,

    In '78 I had a coxsackie virus which set me back for a couple of days and about a week later I started with som PVC's.( Premature ventricular contractions) They were intermittent over the years. no meds. One afternoon at work I call my cardiologist because the PVC's were acting up, and I happened to be drinking a Coke. I mentioned that and he said to me " do you think the caffeine in the Coke is initiating the PVC's?". I quit drinking Coke and watched the caffeine. Afew years later I was in Nepal trekking and we stopped for some refreshment. I chose the orange soda figuring that would be safe. In three minutes my heart was  pounding out of my chest. I don't know what was in that orange drink but I never had another.

    Most likely you  just had some "high octane" tea with a large amount of caffeine or another stimulant in it. There are a lot of those products on the market today.

    If extra beats continue to occur your should see your cardiologist or GP.

    Charlie 44644

  • Jersey_Royal
    Jersey_Royal

    Posted

    Thankyou Eileen, I was thinking it might be a caffeine link, but the tea was here in the apartment that I have been having for the pas 6 weeks, so not sure, had a lovely strong coffee during the day,  but they ( palpitations) didn't start until the evening.

    but I will chk when I get home.

    PS  husband and I did trekking in Nepal it was wonderful.

     

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy Jersey_Royal

      Posted

      My rheumy said everyone gets palpitations with PMR and seemed really disappointed when I said I did not. It is probably pretty common though.
  • Kassie_beetle
    Kassie_beetle Jersey_Royal

    Posted

    Hi JR,

    One of the things that I have learnt from my years of  Nursing and from personal experience is that you cannot assume anything. Palpitations can be caused by a number of things be it drugs or underlying  disease and can be either benign or need treating. Despite what some Doctors say palps need to be investigated to determine what is the cause. So off to the doc you go when you get home but if they re-occur go to ED as it is best to see someone whilst they are happening so they can get a ECG tracing of your heart.

    Cheers

    Kathy

    • EileenH
      EileenH Kassie_beetle

      Posted

      I was just about to reply to ptolemy's comment - if everyone with PMR gets palpitations it is high time it was looked at as part of PMR and not dismissed! The cardiologist I saw was confident it was autoimmune damage to the sinus node - and let's face it, if there is some damage there could be a lot of damage.

      I do appreciate that a LOT of people our age develop palpitations "It's your age..." really is the usual answer from GPs but as you say - it's the reason that is important.

    • Kassie_beetle
      Kassie_beetle EileenH

      Posted

      Thanks Eileen. It is important to be investigated. Has there been any research done into Palps and PMR that you are aware of?

      Kathy

    • EileenH
      EileenH Kassie_beetle

      Posted

      Not that I know of. After I was diagnosed we discovered there were several of us with atrial fibrillation and I asked the question. It was passed on to one of the consultants associated with the NE support group and all we got was the evasive "there's a high rate of a/f in the age group anyway". I.e. they don't know which probably means they haven't looked.

      Fair enough - but is there a higher rate amongst us than amongst the same age group without a history of PMR/GCA? Which I think was actually what I had asked originally. There IS a higher rate amongst RA patients, that is known. GCA certainly predisposes us to a lot of cardiovascular things like aortic aneurysm and other vasculitis damage. If it affects the rest of the CV system there is no reason why it shouldn't affect the heart.

      We have mentioned things to one of the research groups who were looking for diagnostic criteria - that there is a high rate of bladder problems came as a surprise to them but now they ask their patients they find we are quite correct. We said there was hand and foot pain - many rheumies say that is not PMR but RA if patients complain. No it isn't, a study has found it IS associated with PMR.

      We're getting there!

  • misdiagnose
    misdiagnose Jersey_Royal

    Posted

    I buy my own urine test sticks and check for blood and protein in the urine. Blood tests should check for creatinine. My bladder is OK now but I had 2 inflammations with blood in the urine and Nitrofurantoin cured it, relieving symptoms the next day.
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